Mail box



Ju1 19,1960 w. A. KOISPRASCHETAL 2,945,621

MAIL Box Filed March 31, 1958, I I 2 she ts-$11651 2 INVENTOR.

01/0/1001 ,4. m mm v Patented July 19,1960.

United States Patent Omce MAIL BOX William A. Kopprasch and Clifford Nye, both of Allegan, Mich.

' Filed Mar. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 725,224

Claims. (Cl. 232-24) This invention relates to a mail box or like receptacle having a safety compartment. 'The main objects of this invention are, i

First, to provide a mail box or like receptacle which is adapted to receive mail or other material in substantial bulk and is provided with a separate compartment adapted to receive envelopes which may inclose checks or other objects of value.

Second, to provide a mail box having theseadvan tages in which envelopes, for example, may be quickly and easily placed in a locked compartment.

Third, to provide a supplementary compartment for a mail box or the like which may be quickly and easily applied to common and widely used types of such struc-,

tures.

means is inclosed or housed Within the compartment and is inaccessible when the compartment is closed.

Fifth, to provide a compartment unit which is eco-' no'mically produced and may be quickly and easily installed.

Objects relating to details and economies ofthe invention will appear from the description to follow. The

invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectio'n of a mail box embodying our invention taken on a line corresponding to line 1-1 of Fig. 2, the hinged bottom being shown in closed position by full lines and in open position by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on a line corresponding Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary View corresponding to that of Fig. 1 illustrating structural details of the strut connecting and adjusting means.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating steps in inserting and removing of the auxiliary compart- I ment member.

Fig. 9 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the key and locking bolt arrangement. 7

The embodiment of our invention illustrated includes a casing or mail box of widely used type and of substantial size. This casing comprises a bottom 1 having Fourth, to provide a mail box or the like with a lock-- able compartment in which the compartment securing downturnedside flanges 2 and end flanges 3. Theside 1 walls 4 and curved top 5 are formed integrally, the curved top merging into the side walls which are lapped upon and secured to the side flanges of the bottom as by rivets 6. The rear end wall 7 is seamed at 8 to the rear ends of the side walls and top, and overlaps and is secured -to the rear flange. 3 by rivets 9.

This casing is open at the front and is provided with a closure 10 hinged to the side walls at 11 and provided vw'th an inwardly projecting bo'rder flange 12 which embraces the side walls and top. This closure is provided with a finger piece 13 at its upper edge having an opening 14 therein adapted to receive a padlock disposed through the opening of overlying lock member 15. These details, however, form no part of our present invention.

The auxiliary compartment member of our invention comprises a frame-like body member designated generally bq the numeral 16 and comprises inwardly and upwardly facing angled side members 17 connected at their rear ends by the cross-piece 18 and at their front ends by the cross-piece 19. Thedetails of the connection of these partsare not illustrated, but they may be spot weldedv o'rfotherw'ise secured together to provide a unitary as-, sembly. The rear wall 20 is fixedly secured to the rear cross-piece and is curved at its upper edge to supportedly fit or engage the top wall 5. At its front end the body member is provided with an arched or bowed, frame member 21 and a panel 22, desirably of transparent plastic material and having a slot-like opening 23.v therein provided with a forwardly projecting guiding lip 24 at its upper edge. The bottom 25 is hingedly mounted at'26 to the rear cross-piece to close against the under: side of the side members 16. The bottom is provided with upwardly projecting longitudinal side flanges 27 Y and cross flange 28 at its front end, these flanges closing, into the frame, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2,'and, they coact to provide a tray-like member for holding the objects inserted into the compartment through the slit 23.

.The front flange 28 of the bottom is provided with keeper openings 29 for the bolt 30 which is provided with' a cross bar 31 and is slidably supported on the front i cross-piece 19, the bolt being urged to engaging posi tion by the springs 32. The bolt, which has two bits, is retracted by the key 35 which is provided with a tongue 34 engageable with the cam 43 on the cross bar or body of the bolt for retracting the bolt from keeper engaging position, the keepers 29 being in the form of slots. The

key 35 is removable and is properly designed to coact with the lock barrel 36. The details of the key and the" barrelare not illustrated, but the key is special in that it is provided with the bolt engaging tongue 34 and adapted to coact With the cam 43 on the bolt body member. The compartment member is designed to be readily installed in' widely used types of mail boxes which are pro-', vided with inwardly projecting abutment members 37 on the front'e'dges of their side and top walls, see Figs. 1 and 2. Theupwardly bowed front wall frame member 21 a'buttingly engages these abu-trnents and is held in thrust engagement therewith by means of the strut 38 1 which is disposed Within the casing in supported thrust engagement therewith at the juncture of the rear wall and bottom, as is illustrated. The compartment member is: provided with a downwardly and rearwardly projecting socket 39 with which the upper end of this strut is engaged. The strut socket 39 is fixedly secured to .the rear end of the compartment member by means of the bracket T 40, its inner end projecting through the rear wall'of the compartment member. The strut abutment member'41 is threaded into the socket 39, as clearly shown in Figffi, i with its head 42 within the'compar'tment, that is,-'it I inclosed yvithin the compantrnent and is not accessible when the bottom is in closed position, but is accessible when the bottom 25 is in open position through the bottom opening of the compartment member.

With this arrangement, all that is necessary to do in installing the compartment in a casing or mail box is to position the strut member in the socket, insert the compartment in the casing and, position with its front end in engagement with the abutment 37. The strut is then moved downwardly into engaging position with the bottom and rear wall of the casing at the juncture thereof as indicated, the thrust member 41 inserted and adjusted, which effectively secures the compartment within the casing Without the necessity for supporting screws or rivets in the casing walls, and externally there is no evidence of the presence of the compartment. The compartment thus supported is closed merely by swinging the bottom upwardly and it is, as stated, released by the key. The transparent panel is provided, preferably of transparent plastic, so that the user can determine whether or not any mail has been inserted into thecompartment. The bottom 25 is desirably provided with a bumper 44.

We have illustrated and described our invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. We have not attempted to illustrate modifications or adaptations which might be desirable for particular mail box or casing structures, as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mail box or the like, the combination of a casing open at its front end and comprising bottom, side, rear walls, and a transversely curved top wall merging into the side walls, the side walls and top having inwardly projecting abutments at their front ends, a closure hingedly mounted at its lower end and having flanges on its side and top edges embracing the front ends of the side and top walls when it is in closed position, a compartment member comprising a frame-like member having side pieces of upwardly and inwardly facing angled section and front and rear cross-pieces, a rear wall conformed at its upper edge to supportedly engage the top wall of the casing and a front wall comprising an upwardly bowed frame member conformed to fit within the casing at the front end thereof in thrust engagement with said abutments of said casing and a transparent panel having an entrance slot therein, a bottom member hingedly mounted to the rear cross-piece of said compartment frame member to swing downwardly therefrom and provided with upwardly projecting flanges spaced from its front and side edges and positioned within the side and front members of said frame member when in closed position and providing a tray-like receptacle, a strut socket mounted on the rear end of said compartment member frame in downwardly and rearwardly inclined relation thereto, a strut removably engageable with said socket and with the bottom and rear casing wall at the juncture thereof, a strut thrust and adjusting member threaded into said socket whereby endwise thrust may be applied to the strut for supporting the rear end of the compartment member and forcing the front end thereof into supported engagement with said abutments of said casing, a spring biased bolt mounted on said compartment member front cross-piece, the flange at the front end of said bottom member being provided with a keeper for said bolt, and a key actuated means for retracting said bolt.

2. In a mail box or the like, the combination of a.

casing open at its front end and comprising bottom, side, rear walls, and a transversely curved top wall merging into the side walls, the side walls and top having inwardly projecting abutmeuts at their front ends, a closure hingedly mounted at its lower end and having flanges on its side and top edges embracing the front ends of the side and:top walls when it is-in closed position, a compartmentmember comprising a frame-like member having side pieces of upwardly and inwardly facing angled section and front and rear cross-pieces, a rear wall conformed at its upper edge to supportedly engage the top wall of the casing and a front wall conformed to fit within the casing at the front end thereof in thrust engagement with said 'abutments of said casing and having an entrance slot therein, a bottom member hingedly mounted to the rear cross-piece of said compartment frame member to swing downwardly therefrom, a strut socket mounted on the rear end of said compartment member frame in downwardly and rearwardly inclined relation thereto, a strut removably engageable with said socket and with the bottom and rear casing wall at the juncture thereof, a strut thrust and adjusting member threaded into said socket whereby endwise thrust may be applied to the strut for supporting the rear end of the compartment member and forcing the front end thereof into supported engagement with said abutrnents of said casing, a spring biased bolt mounted on said compartment member front cross-piece, said bottom member being provided with a keeper for said bolt, and a key actuated means for retracting said bolt.

3. In a mail box or the like, the combination of a casing open at its front end and provided with an inwardly projecting abutment member adjacent its front end, a closure for said casing, a unitary compartment member comprising a frame member, a rear wall supportedly engageable with the top of the casing, and a front wall comprising a frame member conformed to fit within the casing at the front end thereof in thrust engagement with said abutment member and a transparent panel having an entrance slot therein, a bottom member hinged at its rear end to said compartment frame member to swing downwardly therefrom, a strut socket mounted on the rear end of said compartment frame member in downwardly and rearwardly inclined relation thereto, a strut removably engageable with said socket and supportedly engageable with the casing, a strut thrust and adjusting member threaded into said socket whereby endwise thrust may be applied to the strut for supporting the rear end of the compartment member within the casing and forcing the front end thereof into supported engagement with said abutment member thereof, a spring biased bolt mounted on said compartment member, said bottom member being pro 'vided with a keeper for said bolt, and a key actuated means for retracting said bolt.

4. In a mail box or the like, the combination of a casing open at its front end and provided with an inwardly projecting abutment member adjacent its front end, a closure for said casing, a unitary compartment member comprising a frame member, a rear wall supportedly engageable with the top of the casing, and a front wall comprising a frame member conformed to fit within the casing at the front end thereof in thrust engagement with said abutment member and a transparent panel having an entrance slot therein, a bottom member hinged at its rear end to said compartment frame member to swing downwardly therefrom, a strut socket mounted on the rear end of said compartment frame member in downwardly and rearwardly inclined relation thereto, a strut removably engageable with said socket and supportedly engageable with the casing, a strut thrust and adjusting member threaded into said socket whereby endwise thrust may be applied to the strut for supporting the rear end of the compartment member within the casing and forcing the front end thereof into supported engagement with said abutment member thereof, and a key releasable means for holding said bottom member in closed position.

5. A mail box or the like comprising a casing open at its front end and comprising a bottom, side, top, and rear walls, and a closure for said open end, said casing having a rearwardly facing compartment member support at its front end, a compartment member disposed within said casing with its front end in supported engagement with said abutment member, said compartment member hav-. ing a downwardly and rearwardly inclined strut socket at its rear end, a strut engaged in said socket and disposed in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined relation to said compartment member with its rear end in thrust supported engagement with the casing at the juncture of the bottom and rear wall thereof, a strut adjusting member threaded into said socket in abutting engagement with the end of the strut engaged therein, said strut acting to support the rear end of the compartment and to hold the front end thereof in supported engagement with said compartment support member at the front of said casing, said compartment member having a front wall slotted to permit the introduction of material into the compartment, said compartment front wall being covered by said casing closure member when it is in closed position, a compartment bottom hingedly mounted on said compartment member to swing downwardly therefrom into facing relation to the open end of said casing, and a key releasable spring actuated bolt on said compartment member adapted to automatically engage the bottom when it is swung to closed position.

6. A mail box or the like comprising a casing open at its front end and comprising a bottom, side, top and rear walls, and a closure for said open end, said casing having a rearwardly facing compartment member support at its front end, a compartment member disposed within said casing with its front end in supported engagement with said abutment member, said compartment member having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined strut socket at its rear end, a strut engaged in said socket and disposed in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined relation to said compartment member with its rear end in thrust supported engagement with the casing at the juncture of the bottom and rear wall thereof, a strut adjusting member threaded into said socket in abutting engagement with the end of the strut engaged therein, said strut acting to support the rear end of the compartment and to hold the front end thereof in supported engagement with said compartment support member at the front of said casing, a compartment bottom hingedly mounted on said compartment member to swing downwardly therefrom into facing relation to the open end of said casing, and a key releasable spring actuated bolt on said compartment member adapted to automatically engage the bottom when it is swung upwardly to closed position.

7. A mail box or the like comprising a casing open at its front end and provided with a closure for said open end, said casing having a compartment member support adjacent its front end, a compartment member disposed within said casing with its front end in supported engagement with said support member, said compartment member having a strut socket at its rear end, a strut disposed with its front end in said socket and its rear end in thrust supported engagement with the casing, a strut adjusting member accessible only from within the compartment threaded into said socket in end abutting engagement with the end of the strut engaged thereon, said strut acting to support the rear end of the compartment and to hold the front end thereof in supported engagement with said compartment support member at the front of said casing, said compartment member having a front wall slotted to permit the introduction of material into the compartment, a compartment bottom hingedly mounted on said compartment member to swing downwardly therefrom into facing relation to the open end of said casing, and a detent on said compartment member with which the bottom is automatically engaged when it is swung to closed position.

8. A mail box or the like comprising a casing open at its front end and provided with a closure for said open end, said casing having a compartment member support adjacent its front end, a compartment member disposed within said casing with its front end in supported engagement with said support member, said compartment member having a strut socket at its rear end, a strut disposed with its front end in said socket and its rear end in thrust supported engagement with the casing, a strut adjusting member accessible only from within the compartment threaded into said socket in end abutting engagement with the end of the strut engaged theron, said strut acting to support the rear end of the compartment and to hold the front end thereof in supported engagement with said compartment support member at the front of said casing, a compartment bottom hingedly mounted on said compartment member to swing downwardly therefrom, and a detent on said compartment member with which the bottom is automatically engaged when it is swung to closed position.

9. A mail box or the like comprising a casing open at its front end and provided with a closure for its open end, a compartment member disposed within said casing and including a bottom hingedly mounted at its rear end to swing downwardly into facing relation to the open end of the casing, said casing being provided with an abutment member with which the front end of said compartment member is supportedly engaged, a supporting strut for the inner end of said compartment member releasably and adjustably connected to the inner end thereof, the strut member being arranged in downwardly and rearwardly inclined relation to the compartment member with its rear end in thrust supported engagement with the casing interiorly thereof, means for adjusting the said strut accessible only from within the compartment member, and a key releasable bolt for said compartment bottom mounted on said compartment member and adapted to automatically engage the bottom when it is swung to its erected position.

10. A mail box or the like comprising a casing open at its front end and provided with a closure for its open end, a compartment member disposed within said casing and including a bottom hingedly mounted at its rear end to swing downwardly into facing relation to the open end of the casing, said casing being provided with an abutment member with which the front end of said compartment member is supportedly engaged, a supporting strut for the inner end of said compartment member releasably and adjustably connected to the inner end thereof, and

means for adjusting the said strut accessible only from 1 within the compartment member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 755,038 Palmer Mar. 22, 1904 1,708,109 Short Apr. 9, 1929 2,45 8,060 Clower J an. 4, 1949 

